The Sports Bar is Ready — Let the Games Begin!

The only way the Sports Bar would look better is if ESPN were already showing a game on the flat-screen TVs over the bar.

It’s a sports bar, get it? Hence the baseball glove leather couch and baseball pillow.

Thanks to Pam for the great images.

Topping Off the Atrium Bar

Pam Kern sent us these photos of the Atrium Bar countertop on Deck 1 being installed. It is made up of three layers of glass and marble on the sides. The glass has been purposely cracked on the inside for its aesthetic look.

Elaborate Elevator Doors Installed

These are the forward elevator doors, sent by Pam.

Rudi’s Recipe: Tamarind Cocktail

Blog Board member and consulting chef Rudi Sodamin has sent us his latest libation concoction from Eurodam’s pan-Asian Tamarind Restaurant, the Tamarind Cocktail. Try it at home!

We also just got our paws on the video rendering of Tamarind. Looks like a nice place to grab a bite.

Eurodam’s Dining Room Chairs are in Production

Rendering of Eurodam’s main dining room.

The actual chairs that will be used in the main dining room.

William A. Schuitema, CEO of Best of Europe, sent us images of the production version of the VFD13AHB Open Arms chairs that will be used in the main dining room. Here’s what William, who goes by the nickname Wim, told us about the chairs:

These chairs, meant for the main dining room, were designed by Mr. Frans Dingemans of VFD Architects in Utrecht and produced in collaboration with William Schuitema/Best of Europe in The Netherlands. The chair is the next generation of the first VFD13AHB, which is used on ms Zuiderdam.

The main difference from previous models (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam) is that they are 13 cm (5.11 inches) lower and, for the first time, have a curved back. The comfort is very good and the chair is very strong. Most dining room chairs will have open arms, 45 will have closed arms and there are 20 armless chairs.

The European leather is ‘Australia Red’, and the backside is upholstered in a fine fabric from Rentmeister. The beechwood is stained in transparent black and finished with satin lacquer.

Dutch Chairs for a Dutch Cruise Ship

William Schuitema poses with an armchair (left), designed by NB-Seattle that will be used in Eurodam’s cabins, the chair in the middle was designed by Frans Dingemans and further developed by Frits Schuitema and used on Zuiderdam, and the art deco chair on the right also was designed by Frits Schuitema and used on Carnival Pride.

William Schuitema, CEO of Best of Europe Furniture Co., knows chairs. His company has supplied thousands of chairs to Holland America Line since 1996.

“I met someone collecting furniture for Holland America Line ships and other Carnival ships,” recalled Schuitema. “The architect was interested in four of our chairs, but he couldn’t promise me anything.

“So we sent four chairs. Some weeks later they called us and told us the architects chose three of the four chairs we sent out of 150 other chairs. They chose our chairs for the dining room and for some other areas.”

‘You can buy a cheap chair, but you have to replace it after two or three years. The Rotterdam still uses the chairs we supplied over 10 years ago.’
— William Schuitema

Since then, William Schuitema and his brother Frits, who designs the chairs, have put their chairs on every Holland America ship, including Eurodam. When they first started, Schuitema says, architects would choose an existing model, but then would want some changes made. But Frits Schuitema designs chairs with factory production in mind, and the requested alterations were usually impractical.

“Then the architect Franz Dingemans began to draw his own models and my brother translated these sketches into real drawings so we could use them in the factory to produce the chairs, also desks and all the kinds of furniture,” he said.

Most of the company’s chairs are made in Holland, but materials come from suppliers across Western Europe. “We use French oak from France and from Yugoslavia, Slovenian oak,” Schuitema said. “Beechwood we also use, but always from European sources, most of the time Holland. There is a lot of handwork, but what can be done with a machine, we do with computerized machinery.”

Schuitema said that his company produces high quality, but not inexpensive, furniture. “You can buy a cheap chair, but you have to replace it after two or three years. The Rotterdam still uses the chairs we supplied over 10 years ago. So when you are calculating, the chairs aren’t as expensive as you first think they are, because you can use them for many years.”

The Schuitemas have developed some tricks that help their chairs last longer. “We make the front legs a little bit tapered so the top is a little less wide than the chair’s feet. That way, when the chairs touch each other, it’s only at carpet level. If they are damaged, it’s only on the bottom of the leg, not at the armrest, where it would be more visible.

Schuitema says that selling chairs to cruise lines is a fascinating business, but it’s also very competitive. “We have to compete nowadays as a European manufacturer with countries like America, like China,” he said. “So we have to think very carefully about the way we produce chairs. We have to automatize as much as possible, otherwise, we can’t compete with lower-priced countries.”

Designing Women Give Staterooms a New Look

Left to right: Nancy Burfiend, Devin Fitzpatrick and My Nguyen

When Seattle-based NB Design Group was awarded the project of furnishing Eurodam’s staterooms, not only was it the first time Holland America Line chose a design team from within the United States, but they also were given a key task: completely change the look from all of the other Holland America Line ships.

ENB recently sat down with Nancy Burfiend, owner and principal in charge of NB Design Group, to find out what approach she took and how she met the challenges of designing for a cruise ship.

Burfiend and her team, which includes My Nguyen and Devin Fitzpatrick, decided to go for a boutique hotel look with clean lines and simplified designs. They took a logical approach when choosing the décor.

“Inside staterooms should be light and airy, so we went with a blonde wood,” said Burfiend. “On the outside staterooms we went with a cherry wood that is more luxurious, and we used warm and inviting fabrics. Because the suites are the most expensive, we went with a dark wood that feels the most rich and sophisticated.”

The firm came up with nine schemes — three each for the inside, outside and suite stateroom categories. Once the selection was narrowed down to one for each category, the team put together color boards and computer-generated renderings of the staterooms.

Burfiend said because this was the first time NB Design had worked with a cruise line, the biggest challenge was becoming familiar with all of the International Maritime Organization regulations that govern construction materials, fabrics and fixtures. Fortunately, Nguyen had worked with Holland America in the past, so it wasn’t completely unfamiliar territory.

“To work within the regulations, we find things we like and then go to companies that can reproduce them in the fibers and materials we need to meet IMO standards,” said Burfiend. “A lot of the things in Eurodam’s cabins are custom-made here in the United States or in Europe.”

After minor revisions, the schemes were approved and the team began acquiring the fabrics and woods they needed. Burfiend said that when selecting decor for the staterooms, they also have to be sure that they are getting the best price, the items can be mass-produced and they are easy to assemble.

So when you’re resting comfortably in your stateroom aboard Eurodam admiring the décor, you have NB Design Group to thank for the relaxing, comfortable atmosphere.

Who’s Designing What on Eurodam

Most of the public rooms on Eurodam are being designed by two firms: VFD Interiors and Yran & Storbraaten (Y&S). NB Design Group is responsible for stateroom interiors. Below is a breakdown of each firms’ responsibilities:

All of the public areas on Decks 1, 2 and 3 will be done by VFD Interiors, with the exception of the night club on Deck 2 and the main show lounge, which will be done by Y&S.

The concierge area on Deck 7 and all public areas on Decks 9, 10 and 11 will be done by Y&S, excluding the spa on Deck 9 that will be done by VFD.

NB Design Group is responsible for all guest cabin interiors, with the exception of the two penthouses on Deck 7 that will be done by VFD.

The Pinnacle Bar on Deck 2 is being designed by Luke DeMicco, an Italian architect working for Fincantieri, and all service areas and crew and staff cabins are being designed in-house by Holland America Line.

About the Architects
Since 1952, the architects of VFD have been involved in a wide range of projects including cruise ships, luxurious private housing, utility buildings and work for the Dutch government. Chief Architect Franz Dingemans has been involved with 16 Holland America Line ships. Their offices are located in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Y&S was founded in 1987, and is one of the cruise industry’s leading architectural firms. They service a variety of residential, commercial and corporate clients out of their Oslo, Norway, offices.

Seattle-based NB Design Group has been providing quality interior design solutions since 1988. The firm works on projects in a variety of sectors that range from historical renovations to new construction.

More Decks Means More Stateroom Choices

The additional deck on Eurodam accommodates 63 more staterooms than the Vista-class ships. Forty-seven will be verandah staterooms and 10 will be a new style of stateroom with ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall panoramic windows. Of the ship’s 1,022 staterooms, 86 percent will be outsides and 67 percent will have verandahs.